Keith Larson has a wild imagination – he sees faces in the inanimate objects he encounters. We’ve all been there as kids, giggling at the angry eyes made up by the tail lights of Mom’s car. But Larson has taken it one step further, and now illustrates the faces he perceives in the door knobs, tree stumps, coat racks and back packs he walks by every day.
Larson’s illustrations are inspired by a psychological phenomenon called pareidolia, where the mind responds to stimulus by finding a familiar pattern where none exists. Common examples include seeing ‘the man on the moon’, or hearing hidden messages in recorded music played in reverse. Larson uses his own experience of pareidolia to fuel his art, and with it he truly delights the child within us all.
On his Instagram page, Larson publishes his characters alongside their real life inspirations. He then dreams up a silly story to place the characters in their context, and the results are an imaginative feast.
“Yeah, I’m Frankie the furnace, who’s askin’? Short arms with anger fueled by fire, a bowler hat is my only attire. Burning wood is what I do. For cookin’ stew or warming you. But don’t feed me too much I’m warning you. I’m an earnest furnace, and frankly, I couldn’t care less about burning you.”
“I’m just a bag takin’ a drag. Greaser hair, pull string flair. I’m not full of myself as I may look, I’m filled with your belongings, like pencils and books. Give me a chance doll face, I’m not a cheater. We’ll hold hands at the drive-in theatre.”
“I’m a dandy dapper dampener. Fires tickle my fancy, those are no match for me. Remove my monocle you must, for the water to flee. When it comes to parking, I know I’m a nuisance
But when your dog pees, I’m somehow translucent. I’m a damn dampened hydrant.”
“I’m ripe. Teeth rotten. My other half, forgotten. This crescent face is only recent. But not to panic, by botanic rules my seeds will sprout. More tomatoes to creep you out. Though there will be none like me, I’m one of a kind, you won’t find me in a bottle of Heinz.”
“Grab my beak if it’s laundry you seek. You barely see me, maybe once a week. How can I not have this disappointed look? I dry your clothes as you read a book. I’m dryer duck, and for a buck, I dry the shirts you tuck. Handle my bill if you will, tweak left for your garments. I’ll see you next week, but please, no more vomit.”
“Hey dere, you notice my teef missin’. But I’m just like you, I talk and listen. My inner’s calm, yet I’m lookin’ crazy. Push my teef when you’re feelin’ lazy.”
“Not everyone knows what my nose holds. My eyes stay forward minding my own business as you conduct yours. I am a conductor myself being metal and all, you lock the door as your pants fall. I hold your jacket, or whatever you pack, yet I get no recognition as you carry out your mission. You flush and rush as if you have somewhere to be. Next time we meet, please stare back at me.”
“You’re in the bathroom at the urinal urine spilling. A sloth in transit with its oxygen filling. Arms resting in place, smile on its face, slowly but surely, it’s no race. Happy you’re there, the sloth happily stares. As you finish and flush, to the cosmos, no rush.”
“GAHAYUCK! Hi there! I have some stuff to share! It’s ice and water, and I suggest in that order. If it’s the latter first, by all means quench your thirst! But let it be known, YAHUH! You’re in the splash zone. My uneven teeth dispense your desires, push my eyes is what I require!”
“Hi there! I’m Sharron, the stall wall door. I hope the soap on my face stalls you from leaving this place. My look of surprise caused by the amount of hands not using my cleaning supplies. So, come hither and let me sanitize your mitts, then dry your hands after you rinse.”
“I’m Ellie D, the amphibious illuminator.
The frog that toggles on during a power failure. I’m not green like Kermit, and I don’t tell jokes. But, keep me in mind next time the electric croaks.”
“Love can open many doors. We’re often used to open albacore. I’m Jan, and this is Fran.
We’ve been told no, again and again. Many against us, our life is a sin but in the end, love always wins.”
Larson has only started to post his creations on Instagram in June this year, and already has 28k followers. We can’t wait to see what he creates next.